Ionia County MI Archives Obituaries.....Snell, Watson C. September 17, 1915 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/mi/mifiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Marilyn Ransom mlnransom@chartermi.net May 9, 2010, 9:56 pm The Ionia Daily Sentinel, Saturday, September 18, 1915 Headlines: W. C. Snell Dies at Age Fifty-Seven. Was Thirty-Second Degree Mason, Member of Ionia Knights Templar, Elks and Well Known Resident. Born in Easton Township in 1858, Most of His Life Had Been Spent in Ionia—Funeral From Residence Sunday Under Templar Auspices Watson C. Snell died last night at 5:30 o’clock and though his condition since Tuesday had been such as to leave no hope of recovery, the final outcome came as a shock to the city and especially the wide circle of family friends. Mr. Snell had been in poor health for the past year or more. He had realized this and made every effort to improve. Last Sunday evening the warning took a serious turn and he was taken to his bed under great pain and indications that forecast danger. Dr. Marsh, the attending physician on Thursday called into conference Dr. Richard Smith of Grand Rapids. Dr. Smith came here by automobile and brought a trained nurse with him, prepared to treat the patient. It was quickly decided that an operation was necessary. At five o’clock that afternoon the ordeal was over, Mr. Snell having been on the operating board for an hour and thirty minutes. The result of the operation brought to light a serious condition from the appendix, which was removed, and this was only part of the trouble, which further developed into peritonitis and other complications that within 24 hours left little hopes of recovery. Thursday night Mr. Snell grew worse. From that time until five thirty Friday it was a question only of how long the heart could master the strain, and death finally claimed a life young in years and a citizen prominent in commercial and social life. Watson C. Snell was born on a farm in Easton township, Ionia County, June 3, 1858. He received his education in the district schools and as a young man was engaged in farming in that township. In 1885 he located in Dakota, where for three years he engaged in farming. Returning to Michigan he located in Albion, where he was in the grocery business until 1889. Returning to Ionia county he took up his residence in Ionia city, building the attractive home at 642 West Main street, where the family has since resided. After coming from Albion Mr. Snell established a harness store in this city on North Third street and sold out a year later, going into the grocery business at 440 West Main street for three years. From that time until the fall of 1900 he was engaged in the real estate business when he purchased the Ionia City Laundry property which he conducted for several years building it up into one of the best in that line in this part of the state. For the last eight or more years Mr. Snell had not actively engaged in business. He always took an interest in city affairs and has represented his party on the common council, serving efficiently as alderman from the Second ward for 6 years and as a member of the board of public works for several terms. Mr. Snell was a Mason, having taken all the degrees to the thirty-second. He was a prominent member of Ionia commandery No. 11, Knights Templar, and that order will have charge of the funeral. He was also a member of the Shrine in Grand Rapids. He joined the Elks many years ago and took an active interest in that body, as well as the Eastern Star, the Court of Honor and Maccabees of the World. Nov. 15, 1887 Mr. Snell married Mrs. Kitrenah Bliss, who with one daughter, Mrs. Earl Wright, and one son, Clifford, survive; also a son, Claude Snell by former marriage, of South of Ionia. George Snell of Harter street is an uncle and the only living member of the pioneer family. Watson C. Snell was a man of highest type of integrity, strong in his likes and dislikes, and those who came in close touch with him in business and social affairs and knew him and honored him for his true worth as a friend and citizen will long cherish his memory. The funeral will be attended Sunday from the residence. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/mi/ionia/obits/s/snell3841nob.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/mifiles/ File size: 4.6 Kb